I saw The Getaway back in the '70's. It was a cool film about a husband-wife crime duo who are on the run from both the cops and some fellow bad guys. It starred Steve McQueen and his real-life love interest, Ali McGraw. Flash forward to the mid '90's. There is a whole generation of films that are remakes of earlier works. Among them is a remake of The Getaway. This one again stars real-life loves interests. The new version has Alec Baldwin and his wife, Kim Basinger in it. As much as I would like to say that it was as good or better than the original. I can't. It was only a halfhearted effort and it showed. The only thing the film had going for it was the chemistry between Basinger and Baldwin, which at times wasn't even really there.

Carter "Doc" McCoy (Baldwin) is a robber. He has sophisticated equipment that allows him to get into safes and blow things up. At the beginning of the film, he helps a Mexican crime boss escape from a jail transport. Upon reuniting the man with his uncle, the man is killed and Doc is framed for the murder. He is sent to a Mexican prison. His wife Carol (Basinger) is trying to get him out.

Doc sends Carol to meet Jack Benyon (James Woods). He is a master crook who needs some men for a caper. He agrees to get Doc out of prison if he will help pull off this job. Along with Doc and Carol, there is Rudy Travis (Michael Madsen) and Frank Hansen (Philip Hoffman). The only problem is that Rudy is the one who left Doc in Mexico, not waiting for Doc to hop into the airplane being used for the escape. Doc knows that he can't trust Rudy.

The caper is to rip off a dog track. There is supposed to be a whole bunch of extra money in the safe there. After the caper is finished, Doc and the rest split up. The only hitch in the robbery was the shooting death of an over zealous security guard. Along the getaway path, Rudy kills Frank and lies in wait for Doc. He tries to kill Doc but Doc gets to him first.

Then Doc goes to give the money to Benyon, who tries to double cross him. Doc kills Benyon and he and Carol are on the run from both the cops and Benyon's men. The chasers are led by Benyon's top man, Jim Deer Jackson (David Morse).

In a series of mishaps and troubles, Doc and Carol finally get to El Paso where they are going slip across to Mexico and disappear. What they don't know is that Rudy is still alive and is going to try to get the money and kill them. Along the way, Rudy picks up a veterinarian (James Stephens) and his wife (Jennifer Tilly). The man ends up hanging himself after being his wife takes up with Rudy.

In a bloody showdown, Doc and Carol blast their way out of a hotel where they were staying. They end up catching a ride across the border with an old cowboy (Richard Farnsworth).

This should have been a great chase and romance film. Instead it was a muddled mess. The characterizations weren't flushed out and the lines were taken almost verbatim from the original. Where Ali and Steve had some great onscreen chemistry, Alec and Kim just kind of fizzled.

If you're into Alec Baldwin or just have to stare at Kim Basinger's beauty, then watch this film. Otherwise, find the original and watch it. The original was way better.

Copyright © 2000 Bruce E. Von Stiers